Shark Week 2025 opened with a spectacle that left many conservationists and shark advocates frustrated. The premiere episode, Dancing With Sharks, featured handlers hugging, hand-feeding, and even riding sharks—behaviors that distort shark biology and promote a dangerous misunderstanding of these wild animals. In this episode, we examine how the use of tonic immobility and forced interactions undermines shark conservation and sends the wrong message to the public.

Shark conservation deserves better than spectacle. Instead of relying on shock-value stunts, media like Shark Week should highlight real science, elevate expert voices, and promote respectful interactions with apex predators. We explore how better storytelling can change public perception and help build a future where sharks are protected, not exploited.